Castro, Cheating Daylight, Berlin set at DeVille

Tommy Castro’s played so many gigs at so many venues in his 20 years of pluckin’ the blues, he’s probably setting up his guitar amp right now in your living room.

OK, odds are against it. Not that the Marin County resident wouldn’t. Just that after two decades in the Bay Area, the Marin County resident has achieved much notoriety and perhaps a dash of semi-iconic status.

Basically, he emerged from living room status many original tunes ago.

“It’s been more than 20 years, so I really couldn’t tell you how many places I’ve played. But I’d say 100. It’s one of the great things about being based here,” Castro said.

Make that 101 when Castro and his band, The Painkillers, continue the break-in period at Theatre DeVille in downtown Vacaville on April 18.

“It’s real cool to find a new venue in NorCal,” said Castro. “We have lots of fans in the Vacaville area.”DeVille co-owner Royce Ferris is equally thrilled booking the blues player, as well as securing local rising stars Cheating Daylight on April 26 and Terri Nunn and Berlin on May 17.

“Tommy’s a staple in the area,” Ferris said, agreeing that Castro gets around.

“Oversaturation can be a concern with an artist, but in this situation, that’s not a concern,” Ferris said. “Everybody knows and likes Tommy.”

Cheating Daylight — including Vacaville siblings Jesse, Jaden and Kyle Crosson — performs perhaps its biggest local show in the group’s brief career.

“Our original philosophy is that it’s important to promote the up-and-coming,” Ferris said. “And we’re sticking to that the best we can, that Theatre DeVille be a launching pad.”

Cheating Daylight, added Ferris, “could be the next Papa Roach. You never know.”

Ferris said Berlin was coming through the area and was a good opportunity to secure.“They have plenty of fans, so we booked it,” he said.

The same could be said for Castro, who thrives nationally, but manages to do quite well in the friendly confines of the Bay Area.

“I have friends who are based in places like L.A. who have no place to play at home,” Castro said. “We tour extensively and then work quite a bit when we come home as well.”

Castro realizes his longevity has built a substantial following. Unfortunately, he said, it creates an illusion that the show is always sold out.

“Usually, it is, but not always,” said Castro, thrilled at the success of the recently-released album, “The Devil You Know,” which spent eight weeks on the Billboard Blues Chart.

“It’s grittier and more guitar-driven and has more of an edge to it than our other recordings,” Castro said. “But the focus is, as usual, on the songs.”